Patricia Krenwinkel has been down since before I was born.
The third member of the Manson Family even if she thought she was the first for a few days, Pat met Charlie in Manhattan Beach in 1967 at the apartment of a friend Charlie shared with Pat's older half-sister. Lynette Fromme mentions the same former TI inmate amigo of Charlie early in her book. Fromme says Bill had surfboard feet and unwelcoming eyes or something similar. I'd like to know more about Bill if you've researched him already.
A quick summary of Pat's story is life was sad from the time she hit double digits. She was lonely, met Charlie, decided to take off with him, and it was a terrible decision. Pat turns seventy-five this year and has never been in trouble in prison since her incarceration more than half a century ago. She is the longest serving female inmate in the California penal system. In certain Internet circles, Krenwinkel is the personification of evil.
Inmate Krenwinkel is not a threat to any of us yet we are taxed to keep ourselves safe from her. There's no way can we allow her to live out her years in a nursing home or assisted living facility on her own dime? Must the point be made until their hearts stop beating?
LVH was a legal adult for less than a year when she committed her crime. A baby. She remains in prison in early 2022.
But that's for another time. This is Pat's post. June 2017 was the last time she sat in front of political appointees who rotate through the story every three years in extended guest star roles. The appointees do this thing where certain aging inmates are granted freedom in a season's penultimate episode only to have the governor swoop in during the finale and nix the release.
Pat's 2017 parole hearing was a continuation of the December 2016 hearing that paused when the Board adjourned and spent half a year researching whether she was a victim of Charles Manson. A highlight from this split-season occurs when Deb Tate takes a moment to make the hearing(s) about herself and announces Paul Tate hit her. Deb escaped Col Paul. Pat should've escaped Chuck Summers.
Krenwinkel's fifteenth parole hearing takes place this year.
Thanks as always to almighty cielodrive.com for providing today's discussion materials. In addition to 2016 and 2017, Krenwinkel's 1978, 2004, and 2011 parole hearings are available there for download. I also included screen caps from a Word doc of Pat's 1988 hearing below.
What a pickle. Krenwinkel was sixty-nine in late June 2017 when the parole board said go kick rocks for another half decade. First, Charles Manson dies in prison that November. Then, Barbara Hoyt passes in December on Katie's seventieth birthday. That must've hit like a Mack truck behind Katie's locked steel door.
LVH was prettier. Sadie stole the show. They all sang in the hallway. The Times chronicled Manson's self-destructive courtroom behavior the day Charlie claimed Judge Older was biased. A fiction writer could not have created a better surname for a judge in this trial.
The New York Times
October 7, 1970
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 7— Charles M. Manson led his three women co-defendants in another revolt in their murder trial today.
Brought into court for the first time since he tried to attack the judge on Monday, Manson stood defiantly at the defense table, his long hair swaying as he talked, and angrily accused Judge Charles H. Older of being “emotionally involved” in trying to see him convicted.
Manson, accused of planning a series of murders for his hippie “family” to carry out, was asked by Judge Older if he was willing to behave “in a proper manner” if allowed back in the courtroom.
“Proper?” asked Manson, folding his arms across his chest. He began to accuse the judge of not giving him a fair trial. The judge interrupted Manson. “Just answer the question,” the judge said. “Yes or no.”
“You want to hear my answer?” asked Manson. “If you'd be as detached as you're supposed to be, not be emotionally involved, and do your job as you're supposed to... I can't accept anything you've done. I can't accept the past for the future.”
“Remove Mr. Manson from the courtroom,” said the judge.
As Manson was being taken away by a deputy sheriff, the judge questioned the three women defendants—Susan Denise Atkins, 21 years old, Patricia Krenwinkel, 21, and Leslie Van Houten, 20.
Miss Atkins said in reply to the judge:
“You are not my judge. You are not my God. You may be these people's God. You're not mine.”
As Miss Atkins was led away, Miss Krenwinkel rose and told the judge:
“I'll judge myself. You don't speak my words. You are taking yourself to destruction. I do not accept this courtroom.”
Miss Van Houten silently shook her head when Judge Older asked her if she was willing to abide by the court's rulings.
“You are no longer my father,” she said.
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Oh, Lulu. Did you know Judge Older and his wife raised three girls? Any parents reading this ever had multiple teenage daughters living at home with them at the same time? Anybody watch their sisters fight with their parents growing up? Dare I ask if any of us ever told a parent we wish we had other parents?
Take a gander at Older's military record. Think he played games? Add four fools and a pencil to Older's eighteen kills.
"Clang bang clang," snarled the handsome SoCal judge. "You put on quite a show. I sentence each of you to fry like bacon. Get your g-damned smart-mouthed pigtails outta my courtroom."
Those might not be actual quotes.
Yunnanyi, China. Chuck Older is awarded the Fifth Class Order of the Cloud and Banner, and the Star-Wing Metal. Behind him is a P-40 Tomahawk. The photo is dated June 6, 1942.
Ronald Reagan appointed Older to the bench in 1967. The former US President is on the right in this photo from the Reagan Library.
Reagan as George Gipp teaching the boys in South Bend how to go long.
Power hates a vacuum. Clowning Reagan's ghost and what he represented is pain-free today. Not so much back then. Reagan and company had made their bones and were enjoying their rewards. The only place anyone was going was over to Buck Compton's annual steak fry. Revolution smevolution, losers.
Early on, before monetizing them completely, Bugliosi might've believed the Family would someday get out of prison. I noticed a similar statement attributed to Stephen Kay but didn't pick up on any of that sentiment when reading these transcripts.
1978:
A longtime television aficionado, I often group everything into seasons in my mind. Casts included. Weird, but effective. Back in college, I discovered I could remember almost everything from lectures if I pretended the class was a tv show. Everyone has their memory tricks I suppose.
This season kicks off with a bang. With his career in shambles after using a jailhouse confession to free an inmate who then went out and did horrible things, exiled Stephen Kay arrives from his Backwater punishment posting somewhat (but not really) unannounced in Episode One. Lemme tell ya, Kay ain't tryin to help Pat breathe fresh ocean air down at the Santa Monica pier.
Krenwinkel's attorney S. Dana Gilbert is the first of Krenwinkel's lawyers on this journey who will point out that something is wrong or certain rules aren't being followed etc. The Board never cares.
They're like dude, c'mon. She bent a knife on someone's collarbone. Let's keep it moving so we can avoid some of rush hour on our way home.
Down the road, they stop apologizing. Reporters, cameras, lights. Sit there and shut your trap. Baby, you're a star.
Stephen Kay is the only representative of the People at this hearing. He claims Pat carved "WAR" into Leno's stomach. She replies she did not. He says she admitted she did back in the penalty phase of her trial.
Overall, without a prior hearing for comparison, this one is pretty tame. The Board gets their backstory and Pat's life post-sentencing. How can they be sure she won't join another apocalyptic cult if they let her go? Similar questions. Pat's crimes are eight years old. Outside of Kay's passion, the events of August 1969 seem like they took place decades earlier.
1988:
Stephen Kay is back representing the People. Wendy Park is now Krenwinkel's attorney. The media has arrived. Attorney Park says, "Under rule number something point whatever, you're not allowed to have the media here and broadcast and turn on the lights and..." other exhausting things to type when you know the ending.
Confused, the Board members glance at one another. The senior member mumbles, "What happened to the last guy? Do we have to break in a new attorney every time?"
Park also tries to have Kay tossed out, like attorney Gilbert a decade earlier, because she wasn't given thirty days advance notice of Kay's participation in the hearing. If only documents had existed where potential surprises might've been identified ahead of time.
No dice. Kay remains. The score moves to 2-0 in his favor.
Attorney Park fights the good fight but her best efforts fail. The Board deliberates for all of forty-five minutes before sending Krenwinkel back to her room. This excellent post from 2015 goes much deeper into detail on the backstories of Pat and her co-defendants if you'd like to learn more or refresh.
AP News story covering Pat's 1988 hearing.
2004:
July 7
Now we're cookin with gas. Stephen Kay is back again. Deb Tate and representatives from the victims' families are there forevermore or until Krenwinkel's death. Donald Bartell is Pat's attorney. Krenwinkel is five years older than Tate and looks one hundred percent healthier.
Physical fitness is not enough. Pat is torpedo'd before she leaves port. Presiding Commissioner Al Angele cites a recent psychological evaluation in the decision to deny parole.
"'Psychological evaluation dated 3/30/04 by Peter Hu, H-U, was not supportive of release. The Doctor states an excessive dangerousness."
Inmate is a 56-year-old Caucasian female who indicated that she had been brainwashed by Charles Manson and who in essence had ultimate control of her actions. She stated that despite her moral (sic) fear that she'd be killed by Mr. Manson, she was still unable to accomplish instructions he gave her regarding killing the victims. Although she has not done (indiscernible) dangerous within the past interval, I have some concerns with respect to utility for parole. She has yet to demonstrate an insight regarding her actions, she has yet to demonstrate remorse or regret for her actions and has not been able to recognize the loss of the victims' families suffered over the years. It is my opinion that she has maintained an habitual pattern of (indiscernible) and severity of the crime by acknowledging in a subtle manner that it was Mr. Manson who was ultimately responsible for the commission of these crimes. There is no current evidence of cult behavior or predatory type of like relationships that she had in the past and believe that her violence potential outside a controlled setting is less than the persons (indiscernible) innocent offense. I do believe her willingness to adhere to the rules and regulations of society and her years of maturity have caused the risk factor to decrease.
Stephen Kay Piles on:
Deb Tate and the Next-of-Kin's do their jobs and it's see ya in 2011.
2011:
This year, the show runners opened up the checkbook and brought in an all-star cast. Stephen Kay is back. Deb Tate reprises her role. Linda Deutsch. Reed Saxon. Patrick freakin Sequeira.
Keith Wattley is Pat's attorney. The hearing opens in a familiar way. You're exploiting my client...
Don't ever kill anyone. They'll turn you into a zoo animal for the rest of your life if you do something witchy enough. Mixups happened back at Parole HQ. Someone forgot to mention the hearing to the LaBianca family members. Deb Tate almost didn't get past the gate.
I AM THE ONLY TATE.
Deb Tate has a letter she says is from the LaBianca family. The Board is like is it okay with you if we read it? Wattley goes wtf I object. They say lol.
Even if you skim this hearing, you should read Deb Tate's soliloquy at the end. Pure magic. Here's a big reveal in case you're unaware.
Thank God she was smart enough to avoid the evil trap so many others fell into headfirst. Tate also has clinical hot takes on 12 Step Programs and other fields. I think she's probably some type of doctor. Two doctors maybe. In no way is she squeezing nickels from an old woman's dusty atrocities.
We're left with a seven year cliffhanger. Krenwinkel is denied parole this time for not caring enough or not showing enough emotion when she groveled at the feet of superior minds. Something like that. The story kinda falls apart when Tate steals the show.
2016/2017:
Donna Lebowitz replaces Stephen Kay. Nga Lam is now Deputy Commissioner. Pat and Wattley are not ready for Judge Lam. No one is. Lam makes Sequeria look like a Manson apologist.
New storyline this season. The 1980's had their Satanic Panic back when people were primitive rubes. We won't get fooled again. Now it's all about the kids. We gotta save the children.
By 2016, America is fired up about child trafficking. Roman Polanski dated fifteen year old Nastassja Kinski in 1976 and no one said a word. Two years later, Katie was denied parole because the Board wasn't convinced she would not join a new cult. The young loves weren't given a thought.
Today, Polanski has problems flying certain places because of his proclivities.
Times change.
Child trafficking is now also Patricia Krenwinkel's problem. She should've stopped Charlie or smuggled the little runaways across the Alps to escape the Germans. Anything. But her cruel heart is just too black.
That was from a victim's family member. Again, this is the first we're hearing of sex with twelve year olds.
Pat Krenwinkel is now a pervert. Lam tears at her flesh with his double row of razor teeth. Deb Tate tries to ensure no one forgets she's onstage but it's too late. We're already on IG, Twitter, and Facebook demanding more lines and scenes for Judge Lam. It's time to cycle Tate out.
She's kaput.
Somebody call Bree Ford.
"Psychologically speaking." I bet Bree Ford is never lazy with her adverbs.
Anyway, they adjourn and say we'll be back in half a year.
When they reconvene in June, Pat is shelved until 2022. Deb Tate closes it out with personal anecdotes. For example, Dr. Drew (her close personal friend) wanted to attend the hearing but could not. Other secrets are revealed in the word salad below.
Everyone in that house were personal, very close friends, long-time friends of mine. I have in my hand a letter from Barbara Hoyt, just in case you folks only got a summary of the interview that she gave to the department of parole boards investigator, and, uh, then after that, there's some other things I would like to address. For me, personally, prior to me reading this letter, I would like to state that in doing tons of research and plus having a lot of personal friends, one being Dr. Drew Pinsky, who was very active in getting this law passed in the first place, it's clearly a division the way it has been interpreted today for this case between the medical definition and the way that it has been basically, excuse my French, bastardized for the purpose of this hearing. Drew was willing to come with me, but, um, we'll address that another day. Okay, here goes the letter: To whom it may concern, my name is Barbara Hoyt. I lived with the Manson family for f -- six months during spring through fall of 1969. I didn't interact with Katie, who's -- that was Ms. Krenwinkel -- very much, but during the time I was there, I never saw Charlie hit or beat her. I did see him hit Diane Lake often and Bo Rosenberg once. Diane Lake seemed to be his out -- outlet person. Charlie and his followers were certainly abusive to their victims. I have never seen Sadie, Katie or Leslie hit even once. Charlie never hit, and Charlie never hit her. We were all free to come and go at will. Charlie would try to talk the girls out of it by making love to them, and she provides an example, as in with Gypsy, or try to talk them out of leaving. He was very charming. The girls could be sexually partnered with each other or with any of the men. I heard that Katie would not have sex with anybody but Charlie because she thought she was ugly, which you are not ugly. If you think these killers are rehabilitated, think again. Katie went out to the LaBianca home, and without any hesitation, went to the kitchen drawer, took out the biggest knife and took Ms. LaBianca into the bedroom to kill her. She then repeatedly stabbed Mr. LaBianca s -- uh, several times in the stomach with a carving fork and then wrote messages in blood on the walls and refrigerator for the victims' family to find later. Katie cried, saying to the prosecutor and victims' next of kin, I know you want me dead. Not one of us have ever wished death on any of these killers. However, the killers did wish death on our family members, and I'm sure, in my case, since I get repeated death threats, they most certainly want to see me gone.
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Bonus:
LSD seemed harmless.
And a blanket made from hair.
Tidbits from my Chuck Older research. See you next week. +ggw
